KSM & Co. to be Tried in Military Tribunals

Attorney General Eric Holder reversed policy Monday, announcing that alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four co-conspirators will be tried in a military tribunal in Guantanamo Bay rather than in a New York federal court.

In announcing the decision, Holder clarified that he is returning the case to the Defense Department “reluctantly.” He also blamed Congress, which erected barriers to bringing detainees to the United States for prosecution, declaring that they have encroached upon a “unique executive branch function” to decide how to handle cases against terror suspects. “Do I know better than them? Yes,” Holder said, referring to lawmakers who voted for the restrictions on Guantanamo transfers to U.S. soil.

With such high profile cases set to take place at Gitmo, it’s become clear that President Obama will not be closing down the detention facility any time soon, if at all – a policy blow to the Obama administration. And that is the right decision, albeit two years later. As they say, it’s better late than never.